Kite control



Aug. 13, l1963 H. J. DURICK KITE CONTROL Filed July 10, 1962 1N VENTOR Henzylurick.

United States Patent O Filed .uly 10, 1962, Ser. No. 208,771 9 Claims. (Cl. 24d-155) This i invention relates to ground-controlled, windsupported, flying objects such as kites and more particularly, to an improved flight control system therefor.

Kites have been a perennialsource of enjoyment for children and many adults, and occasionally are employed for scientific purposes, such as investigation of the atmosphere. Commonly kites are relatively uncontrollable and their flight pattern is determined primarily by the prevailing Wind velocity and direction.

The interest and amusement afforded by a kite is greatly increased by providing the yoperator with some degree of contnol over its iiight, so that the kite can be maneuvered either into flight patterns with other kites or in such `competitive kiting sports as line-cutting and stuntilying. Also, by providing `a kite with an aircraft design and a flight control mechanism enabling it to be maneuvered in response to the will `of the operator, a child operator can easily imagine himself a-s flying a model aircraft and the amusement value of the kite is further increased. For military purposes, it may be desirable to provide aircraft-shaped target kites with iiight control mechanisms to increase their value as moving targets.

In addi-tion to the entertainment and instructional purposes of a ilight control mechanism for a kite, such mechanisms also enable more kites to be flown within a small open area without mutual interference, since the kites can be repositioned in the sky at the will of their operators. This last-mentioned advantage becomes more important `at kite ying areas decrease due to the expansion 'of our cities.

It has been proposed to provide various mechanisms by which the ground-located operator can move and maneuver his kite somewhat independently of the prevailing wind characteristics. Known mechanisms for providing such control have includedmultiple ground l-ine systems, lsingle ground line systems employing complex camming arrangements that ily with the kite, and even remote-controlled pawl and ratchet devices. The prior attempts at kite control mechanisms have not been completely satisfactory, 4because of their relative complexity which dictate high cost `and weight, and because `any control thus-provided is relatively As the majority tof kite ilyers are children, it will be appreciated that the sensitivity and stability and hence, the ease of operation for Vany kite control system, will be a major factor in the success of that system.

Accordingly, it has been an object of my invention to provide a single ground line kite control mechanism that can be operated with a minimum of skill and dexterity, to selectively cause maneuvers such as turns, dives, and spirals;

Another object of my invention has been to provide a kite control mechanism that is `of relatively simple construction and is thereby inexpensive lto manufacture and maintain;

Another important object of my invention has been to provide a small, lightweight kite control mechanism that does not overload the kite or otherwise unduly interfere with its normal flying ability;

insensitive and unstablef A further object of my invention has been to provide x an improved kite apparatus including an aircraft-like kite and a control mechanism by which the kite can be easily maneuvered from the Ground in flight patterns.

These and other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled in the `art upon reading and understanding 3210615175 Patented Aug. 13, 1963 ICC the following description wherein specilic reference is made to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of my kite and control mechanism in Hight;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, partially in cross-section of my kite control mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental elevation in cross-section, showing internal details of my kite control mechanism at section III-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is 'a partially cross-sectioned elevational view of an end portion of my control mechanism, taken at section IV-IV of FIGURE 2; l

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectioned elevational view of an yintermediate portion of my contnol mechanism taken at section V-V of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmental elevational view of a rearward portion of my control mechanism taken along line Vi-VI of FIGURE 2; and

VFIGURES 7 and 8 areV fragmental cross-sectional views of the central pontion of my control mechanism illustrating movements :of the internal mechanism.

An important phase of my invention involves the provision of an attitude control bar or yoke member connected between the kite and the ground line that may be pivotally oriented by selectively-positioning the point `of connection between the yoke member and the ground line. Another phase of this invention relates to the provision of a detent yarrangement for positively holding the point lof ground line connection to the yoke in a central stable position, unless and until it is desired to maneuver the kite.

A further important phase of my invention involves the provision of positive-directing means inthe control mechanism to aid in the connecting point positioning operation. A still further phase of my invention relates to the combination of a kite configuration for simulating an aircraft and a control mechanism to enable simulated flying 'of .the aircraft.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 there is shown a kite or air-current-supported mechanism 10 having a centrally-disposed verticallyextending bridle 11 and a pair of control points 12. and 13 that are laterally displaced on either side of the bridle 1f1. An elongated attitude control bar or yoke member Z0 is connected to the bridle 11 by a centrally-located riser line 14 and is connected to the laterally-spaced control points by a pair of side-control lines 15 and 16. The kite 10 is ilown by -an operator-held ground line 17 that is connected to the yoke member 20' at a point P that is selectively-positionable for movable with respect to the yoke member 20.

The yoke member 20 includes mechanism, as hereinafter more clearly described with specilic reference to FIGURES Q and 3, for selectively positioning the point P laterally along the yoke member 20 to selectively establish asymmetric control forces on the kite lll. As shown in FIGURE 1, the connection point P has been displaced to the left, off-center of the yoke member 26 and is creating an unbalance of forces on the control lines 15 and 16, causing the kite 1G to dive or spin to the left as indicated by the arrow A.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the yoke member Ztl includes a pair of symmetrical side extensions or outwardly-extending rearwardly-inclined arms 21 and 22., the outer ends of which carry line connecting flanges or means 23 and 24 that are connected to respective control points 12 and i3 on the kite 10 (see FIGURE l) via control lines 15 and 16. The arms 21 and 22 are advantageously inclinedrearwardly toward the ground line 17 to denne `an angle between their rearward' edge portions that is less than and is preferably about 120. Such inclination will knot, for example, a slipknot.

3 increase the ease of operation and sensitivity of the control. The riser line i4 from the bridle ll1(see FIGURE l) is connected to a centrally-disposed portion of the yoke member 29 by any suitable line connecting means, such as integrally formed flange 25, and is preferably of a formed integrally with or otherwise attached to one end f thereof for forcibly-engaging a rearward surface portion Z3 of theyoke member Ztl. As shown in FIGURES? 3 through r6, a slot 29 in the rearward edge of the yoke member extends laterally-outwardly from the center of the yoke member to provide for passage of the lever 26 to thereby permit movement of the ball 27 along a large portion of the yoke member length. The ball 27 is resiliently connected to the forward-central portion of the yoke member 2t) by an elastic or rubber band 3d or other suitable means, such as a spring, for urging the ball away from the rearward surface 23. The ball 27 wd yoke member 20 are each provided with hook means or anchors 31 and 32, respectively, to enable easy replacement of the rubberband 3i).

The rearwardly-disposed ball engaging surface Z3 of theryoke member Ztl is provided with a centrally-disposed socket'ior recessed portion `33 having a shape lthat is substantially complementary to the ball 2.7 for receiving and positively-positioning the ball 2 7 during normal night conditions, when symmetrical control forces arel desired. `A pair of rearwardly-outwardly-inclined ball-directing deilection' surface means 34 and 3S are securely connecte to internal surfaces of the yoke member 2i) and intersect at a point just forward the socket 33. The surface means 34 and 35 aid in selectively-positioning the ball 27, `as desired and directed by the ground-located operator (not shown). The surface means 34 and 35 are divided into separate upper and lower sections, such as sections 35a and 35b shown in FIGUR-E 3, to provide a space or clearance for the passage of the rubber band 3G. The length of the rubber band 30 is preferably such that the ball 27 will rest adjacent the uppermost end or base of the surface means 34 or 35 when the rubber band 3% is in its relaxed state asV shown in FIGURES 7 and 8.

The yoke member 2t) is constructed of a lightweight plastic, metal, or wood and should be made in sections, such as upper and lower halves Ztia and 2Gb (see FIG- URES 3-5), to provide for easy replacement of the rubber band 30.V

FIGURE 3 Shows a preferred structural arrangement for connecting the laterally-extreme end of the upper and Vlower yoke halves 2da and 2Gb. As the connecting structure is the same at both ends, only 4the left-hand end connection will be described.

The lower half 2017 of the yoke member 2t? has a hinge flange 36 including a hole or female part 37 formed therein for receiving a slightly tapered pin or male part 38 that is carried by flange 39 `of the upper yoke half 29a. The pin 3S and hole 37 are slanted somewhat with respect to the franges 36 and 39 to provide a hinge effect during assembly of the yoke halves.

The end of the yoke halves 20a and Ztlb are also connected by a pair of extensions it? and 4l which together provide the Vconnection flange 23 (see FIGURE 2) to which the control line 115 is secured by an appropriate The control line 15 passes through both extensions ld and all to secure the upper and lower yoke halves 2da and 2Gb together.

`As shown in FIGURE 4, there is also provided a pair of extensions 42 and i3 on respective central portions of the yoke halves 2da and Ztl-b that together constitute the riser line connecting flange (see 2). The

riser line 14 is tied to the extensions 42 and d3 to assist Vvin holding the yoke halves together.

`Means is also provided for preventing relative motion between intermediate portions of the upper-and lower and socket connections may be positioned at various intermediate positions along the yoke arms 21 and 'Z2 as required by the size and material of the yoke member.

The operation of the device thus described is `as follows:

The kite l0 (see FIGURE l) is ylaunched by pulling or lofting it into the wind, just Vas with any ordinary kite, and it is flown until a safe maneuvering altitude is reached, The riser line 14 holds the kite l@ in a stable, high-lift altitude -through the bridle il in a manner similar to ordinary uncontrolled kites. ln this normal flying position, the ball 37 (see FGURE 7) is held in its central stable position within the socket portion 33l of the yoke member Zilby the maintained forces thereon from the ground line 17 and the lever 216. The rubber band 39 is extended and tends to urge the ball 27 toward the forward or upper part of the yoke member Ztl away from socket 33.

When it is desired to maneuver the kite 10, for example, to cause a dive to the'left as shown in FGURE 1, the operator moves the ground line 17 to his left while maintaining tension thereon, thus causing lever 26 to rotate as v indicated by arrow B (FIGURE. 7). r)The ball 27 is thus rotated in the socket 3.3 of the yoke member 2G, inducing Y lateral force in the rubber band 39. After the ground line 17 has been moved, tension thereon is momentarily released, allowing the rubber band 3i) to spring or snappull the ball 27 forwardly of the yoke 20 away from socket 33 into contact lwith the ball-directing surfaces 35, as indicatedA by the Varrows C; the ball 27 will thereby be deiiected or moved off-center to the left. While the rotated position of the ground line 17 is maintained, tension is quickly re-applied by the operator to pull the ball 27 into the selected arm 22 of the yoke member 2G, as indicated by the arrow D, thereby establishing an olf-center position of the connecting point P between the yoke member 2h and the ground line i7.

The rear-ward-inclination of thel arms 22 will assist the forces on the ball 27 from the ground line 17 and the riser line 14 in pulling the ball down into the arm 22. The offcenter positioning of connection point P will cause an unbalancing of forces on the control points l1 `and l2 of the kite 10, causing it to dive or spiral to the left, as shown in FIGURE l. I have found that the degree of magnitude of the kitesrmaneuver can be controlled by varying the tension on the ground line 17 which Vwill selectivelyposition the point P along the arm 22. As the rubber band 30 constantly opposes the ground line tension, the ball 27 can be placed in equilibrium positions along the yoke arm as desired.

When it is desired to restore the kite 1t) to normal flight from a dive or spiral to the left, wherein the ball 27 is in the position shown in FlGURE 8, tension on the ground line 17 is again released and the ball 27 will be pulled through the inclined arm 22 toward the center of the yoke member 20 by the rubber band 3i?, `as indicated lby the arrow E. The relaxed position of the rubber band 30 will position the ball 27 adjacent the uppermost end of the deilection surface means 35. A subsequent application of tension to the ground line 17 will be opposed by the force of the centrally-located riser line 14 to pull the ball 27 along the surface means 35 into the socket portion 33 of the yoke member 2t), as indicated by the arrow F, to thus re-establish normal flight condition. The central force applied by the riser line i4 aids significantly in the ball-- Yconstructed in accordance with my invention and iown with a relatively standard kite having a length of 36 inches and a width of 30 inches. The yoke member 2O was connected through 24 inch control lines and a slightly longer riser line to the control points 12 and 13 and the bridle 11 respectively. The yoke member 20 had an overall or tipto-tip width of 12 inches, and each arm was provided with a 51/2 inch slot to permit varying degrees of maneuverability. The weight of the yoke member was approximately 3 ounces.

In ilight, the control mechanism permitted a maximum kite movement of about 50 feet to either side of a normal position and dives or loops were accomplished in circles as small as feet in diameter. Also, the control mechanism permitted the kite to be banked off-center without going into a dive.

i Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In kite apparatus including a kite that has a bridle and is ilown by a single ground line, a flight control systern comprising: -an elongatedyoke member having a pair of rearwardly-inclined outwardly-extending arms that provide a longitudinally-extending surface portion, said surface portion including a centrally-locatedsocket portion, control line means connecting opposed ends of said yoke member respectively to laterally-spaced points on the kite, riser line means connecting a central portion of said yoke member with the bridle, a selectively-positionable means positioned adjacent a central portion of said yoke member for aiding in the selective-positioning of said g ber with said bridle.

securely-connected to a central portion of said yoke memlever having an enlarged end portion for engaging said surface portion in a force transmitting relationship therewith, resilient means connected to said yoke member and said enlarged end portion of said lever for resiliently urging the enlarged end portion away from said surface portion, and rearwardly-outwardly-facing inclined-surface means positioned adjacent a central portion of said yoke member for aiding in the selective-positioning of said lever.

`2. Kite apparatus as detined in claim l wherein the relative lengths of said control line means and said riser line means are constructed and arranged to normally impose a greater stress in said riser line means than in said control line means.

3. In kite apparatus including `a kite that has a bridle j and is flown by a single' ground line, a ight control device comprising: an elongated hollow yoke member having separable upper and lower portions to provide access to its hollow interior, a pair of control lines connecting opposed ends of said yoke member p respectively to later-ally-spaced pointsongthe kite, said control lines securing together said upper and lower portions of`said yoke member to prevent their separation in flight, a riser line connecting a central portion of said yoke member with the bridle, said riser line also securing together said upper and lower portions` of said yoke member to prevent their separation in flight, and selectively-positionable means for connecting said yoke member in a force-transmitting relations'hip with the ground line.

4. Kite lapparatus comprising: a kite having an aircraft design thereon, a bridle,and a pair of control points positioned on laterally-opposed sides of said bridle, and flight control mechanism said night control mechanism comprisingan elongated yoke member having a pair of rearwardly-inclined outwardly-extending arms that provide a longitudinally-extending surface portion, said surface portion including a centrally located socket portion, a selectively-positionable lever having an enlarged end portion for engaging said surface portion in a force-transmitting relationship therewith, means for resiliently-urging the enlarged end portion of said lever away from said surface portion, rearwardly-outwardly-facing inclined surface 5. Kite apparatus as delined in claim 3 'wherein the length of said control lines and said riser line lare constructed and arranged to impose a greater stress in said riser line than in said control lines.

6. Means for controlling the Hight of a kite by a single ground line comprising: tan elongated yoke member, control-line-receiv-ing means securely-connected to opposed ends of said yoke member, riser-line-receiving means ber, and selectively-positionable means for connecting said yoke member in a force-transmitting relationship with` the 'ground lineg-said selectively-positionable means lcomprising: -a lever having a` stop portion adjacent one end thereof for engaging a portion of said yoke member and having means at its other end for receiving the ground line, resilient means connected to said yoke member and s-aid stop portion Ifor urging said stop portion away from the engagement with the yoke member in opposition to force of the ground line and kite, and la centrally-disposed indentation in the engaged portion of said yoke member for cooperatively-receiving said stop portion to selective-lyretain said Vstop portion in a central position with respect to said yoke member.

7. Means as ideiined in claim 6 for controlling the flight of a kite further comprising deflection surface means for assisting the selective-positioning of said stop member.

8. Kite control apparatus comprising: an elongated yoke member having -a pair of rearwardly-inclined out-l `to 'provide access to its hollow interior, said yoke member having a pair ofrearwardly-inclined outwardly-extending arms that provide an interna-l llongitudinally-errtending surface portion, said surfaceportion including a centrallylocated socket portion, 'la selectively-positionable lever having an enlarged end portion positioned within said hollow yoke member rfor engaging said surface portion in a forcetransrnitting relationship therewith, means connected to said yoke member and said enlarged end portion of said lever `for resiliently-urging the enlarged end portion of said lever away from said surface portion, and rearwardlyoutwardly-facing inclined-surface means positioned adjacent a central portion of said yoke member for aiding in the selective-positioning of said lever.`

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN KITE APPARATUS INCLUDING A KITE THAT HAS A BRIDLE AND IS FLOWN BY A SINGLE GROUND LINE, A FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED YOKE MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF REARWARDLY-INCLINED OUTWARDLY-EXTENDING ARMS THAT PROVIDE A LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING SURFACE PORTION, SAID SURFACE PORTION INCLUDING A CENTRALLY-LOCATED SOCKET PORTION, CONTROL LINE MEANS CONNECTING OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID YOKE MEMBER RESPECTIVELY TO LATERALLY-SPACED POINTS ON THE KITE, RISER LINE MEANS CONNECTING A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID YOKE MEMBER WITH THE BRIDLE, A SELECTIVELY-POSITIONABLE LEVER HAVING AN ENLARGED END PORTION FOR ENGAGING SAID SURFACE PORTION IN A FORCE TRANSMITTING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, RESILIENT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID YOKE MEMBER AND SAID ENLARGED END PORTION OF SAID LEVER FOR RESILIENTLY URGING THE ENLARGED END PORTION AWAY FROM SAID SURFACE PORTION, AND REARWARDLY-OUTWARDLY-FACING INCLINED-SURFACE MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID YOKE MEMBER FOR AIDING IN THE SELECTIVE-POSITIONING OF SAID LEVER. 